Friday, November 5, 2010

Austin tweeted this last night as he was filming late night scenes for OTH.

Just watched Rashomon for the second time. Kurosawa is the master. Toshiro Mifune is my hero!! - AUS10

Kurosawa is the master indeed and one of the greatest directors in the history of film, his work has not only influenced some of the greatest directors, but influenced filmmaking in general.If you are a fan of Star Wars - thank Kurosawa. It was Kurosawa's movie 'The Hidden Fortress' that inspired the young George Lucas create a galaxy far, far away.

Kurosawa most famous film is Seven Samurai. The story of a besieged group of villagers who hire seven strongmen to protect them from a bunch of bad guys. Does it sound familiar? It might remind you of the movie The Magnificent Seven which Hollywood took Kurosawa's story and created it as a Western. Or maybe you saw A Bug's Life. This time, the peasants were ants, the thugs, grasshoppers, and the protectors, a bunch of traveling circus bugs.Or how about Clint Eastwood in A Fist Full of Dollars? That would be Kurosawa 1961 masterpiece 'Yojimbo'. And the master introduced something that is taken for granted now; he creating a new cinematic character type - the antihero. The story is about a nameless samurai pitting the two warring clans of a small town against each other. It was so profound to Italian director Sergio Leone. His movie, A Fistful of Dollars, was at times almost a shot-for-shot steal as Clint Eastwood's nameless gunslinger went through the same misadventures as Kurosawa's nameless samurai.

Kurosawa has influenced everyone from Spielberg to Coppola.

No doubt the Austin was watching it for the story, but he also may have been looking at some of the innovative cinematography as well.

It was in Rashomon it was the first time that a hand held camera was used. It is often given credit for the first time a camera was pointed directly at the sun. In the shots of the actors, Kurosawa wanted to use natural light, but it was too weak. They solved the problem by using a full mirror to reflect the natural light back at the actors. The result is to make the strong sunlight look as though it has traveled through the branches, hitting the actors. After rain would not show up on screen made from pure water, the rain tank tinted with black ink so the water would show up on camera.

The cinematographer, Kazuo Miyagawa, contributed an enormous amount of ideas to Rashomon,in addition to using mirrors to create natural light. For example, in one sequence, he chose to use a series of single close-ups of the bandit, then the wife, and then the husband, which then repeats to emphasize the triangular relationship between them.

Austin once again shows what a cinephile he is, and maybe some day we will see how Rashomon and other movies have influence him from behind the camera.Happy Austin Friday.

35 comments:

I watched a few clips from the premiere but did not have a lot of time since I need to get myself to work. He looks better with the beard trimmed some more, but he still displays a lack of enthusiasm and the delight that he used to have. Something is definitely changed for him. Tired of living a lie, broken heart, disappointment, whatever is behind it, it runs very deep. Jake may look handsome, but the pain in his eyes is palpable.

I like the suit and shirt Jake is wearing, but what in the heck is up with the shoes--they look like he used them to go hiking on some long, dusty trail and never cleaned them.

His face is looking kind of narrow, don't know if that is age or weight loss. And got to agree, watching the Access Hollywood video it feels a bit like he's going through the motions, and his eyes do kind of lack that spark he usually has.

Poor Quote Me. Jake is not living up to her high expectations (they breed them differently in Kansas). Such a big black hole in her life. But she always has this blog to comfort her, and her My Little Pony security blankie. Oh, and the meds...

I consider the Leadvile shots just as devastating as Lakers 1. Just as devastating as TMZ reporting J and A rocking the trailer on the set of JFC. No doubt some folks aren't happy these pics got out. I wish Ted would pick up on these two lovebirds in Colorado.

Thats not a phony photo op Good that was a photo that was never meant to be seen. Jake and Austin both have been talking about this film and being a part of it. They are in constant contact an d are very likely together much more that we ever see.

There is always something special about Austin Fridays! I enjoy the fact that he is consistant with his appreciation of the art of cinematography, his interest in it and how he always seems to come back to it.

Special, I'm always happy to learn more as I do when checking out your posts, your insights are well founded and are worthy of discussion.... and your talent for catching the minute details and finding humour in Jake's and Austin's antics are very much enjoyed.

The other night I was happy to take in the youtube series on Ricky Martin's appearance on Oprah and it was quite a revelation! Was very happy to see the immense joy and relief that he has had since he revealed his true self to the world and more importanly to his two beautiful children.

All we can do is wish for the same thing for Jake, Austin and whatever family they have forged in privacy, that they can soon reveal to the world with pride.

Long long and a bit of a strange day,(including a what seemed to be never ending trip around town in 1989 Lincoln Continental) and now for a long long night ahead. I think Keebler elves will envious at all the baking that will be cranking out my oven overnight.

I can see how Austin would really get into Kurosawa, not just because he is a brilliant director, but the way he influenced the modern Western. Also, Kurosawa, has many of his heroes as a bit of a lone one, which I can see appealing to Austin too.

I finally got around to watching this weeks OTH. One of the more entertaining episodes in a while. And I thought Austin looked especially good for some reason. An ad for LAOD was an unexpected highlight.

I saw a few more clips of Jake this evening too, and he looked a little more into it in some of them but still no sign of the joy he used to display. But what is up with those shoes. Did his publicist or manager or whoever his handler is not notice. A shoe shine can be had almost anywhere. His act of rebellion I suppose. There is always one.

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This blog is strictly for entertainment purposes. Its writers make no serious claims about the sexuality of either Jake Gyllenhaal or Austin Nichols. This blog is in no way affiliated with any Hollywood person or agency. Images and music used within this blog belong to their respective copyright owners and no infringement of copyright is ever intended.